Tillerson won't rule out 'foolish, simplistic, naive' idea for Japan and South Korea to develop nukes

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in Washington, March 6, 2017.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson opened up his first official trip to Asia announcing that the US would consider "all options" to deal with the growing nuclear threat from North Korea.

But Tillerson now stresses that all options are on the table for dealing with North Korea, and that could include more countries building nuclear weapons.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, told Business Insider the idea that North Korea's nuclear posturing could be answered with further nuclearization of the region was "foolish, simplistic, and naive," and "deeply, deeply troubling."

"If all options are on the table, that should mean that diplomacy and talks with North Korea are on the table," said Kimball, who acknowledged that "Tillerson is right that, up to now, US administrations have not succeded in denuclearizing North Korea."